Heart of Darkness Super RRS

Transcription

1 Heart of Darkness Super RRS Jordan Shen Xiao Liang Andrew Chen Forrest Lee Title: Heart of Darkness Publication date: February 1899 Author: Joseph Conrad Nationality: Polish Author s Birthdate: December 3, 1857 Death Date: August 3, 1924 Setting: 1890 s: The 1890 s was the age of Imperialism when Europe began exploiting the natural treasures of Africa. The white men thought themselves to be of a higher being compared to the African Americans because their cultures differed so much. They robbed Africa and shamelessly justified their actions by saying that they were going to Africa to civilize the sorry beings that lived there. This time period sets up the storyline for the novel Conrad not only addresses the ivory trade in the Congo, but the effects of Imperialism on both sides, the Europeans, and the natives. Thames River: The Thames River is where the story begins and sets up the frame for Marlow to tell his story. The darkness that overcomes the seamen as they wait for the tide makes Marlow thoughtful about civilization, history, and eventually trails off to his story of his journey to the Congo. The dark, night setting gives an ominous vibe to the story especially when the frame is broken, it is as if Marlow is telling a scary campfire story. When Marlow finishes his story, the seamen look around them again and feel the darkness chill through their bodies. Brussels: Marlow goes to Brussels to receive his job from the Company to captain a steamship. He takes a French steamship to the coast of Africa to the Company s Outer Station, where he will embark on his journey into the dark Congo.

2 Congo: The majority of the Congo takes place within our around the Congo and this setting oftentimes acts like a tangible character that haunts the Europeans. The dark, gloomy, thick, insidious jungle has the power to change people. The fact that there is no societal norms makes people lose all sense of restraint. The Congo is so immense and large that the Europeans, who come in thinking they are so much greater than everyone else, find themselves powerless to the force of nature. Plot Synopsis: Part I: The story is introduced by the unnamed narrator who is on a boat, the Nellie, sailing on the Thames with four other men and the captain. The four men include the Lawyer, the Accountant, Marlow, and the narrator himself. He describes the sea and their journey and alludes to the famous pirates, Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Franklin. Marlow is described as a seaman who is unlike any other seaman he has ever met. Marlow begins to narrate the story with a historical background about the imperialistic Romans. He tells the men about the time he went on a journey on the Congo River to rescue a man named Kurtz. After his return from an expedition in the eastern oceans, he tries to look for a job to go another journey in the sea. His aunt is able to get him job with a Belgium company, making Marlow feel ashamed he had to turn to a woman for help. He goes to the interview, gets the job, and must have a doctor's examination before he sets out on the journey. The examination with the doctor makes him worried about what he will experience in Africa. He takes a French steamer from Brussels to the coast of Africa, stopping every so often to land soldiers. One day, they come across a man-of-war near the coast that shot into the wilderness for seemingly no reason. Marlow converses with the Swedish captain and becomes even more nervous about his journey after he learns a man had hanged himself. They arrive at the outer station and he observes ruins of machinery and laboring natives. Amidst the wilderness and ruins, Marlow meets the chief accountant who has a surprisingly immaculate appearance. He stays at the station with the accountant for ten days where he learns more about Kurtz. After his stay at the outer station, Marlow follows a 200-mile caravan with sixty natives and one other white man. His rather large partner becomes sick early in the trek and the other members of the caravan begin to desert them, taking their supplies as well. Finally, they reach the Central Station where Marlow finds out that his steamboat has sunk. The manager tells him that he must repair his boat and begin the journey immediately for they have lost contact with Kurtz who is very important to the Company. Marlow learns more about Kurtz and that he collects the most ivory of all the stations by talking to other men. He begins to repair his steamboat but he is short of supplies and becomes frustrated. They come across the Eldorado Exploring Expedition that pillages the land for goods. Marlow shares that he is curious about Kurtz abilities since he has heard so many rumors about him.

3 Part II: Marlow overhears the manager of the Company and his uncle conspiring against Kurtz. They hear that Kurtz has tried to bring ivory from the Inner Station to the other stations of the Company but turned back and kept the ivory. Marlow also finds out from their conversation that Kurtz is sick and has not been sending any ivory to the Company. The steamboat is finally repaired and Marlow, the manager, and a few pilgrims set out on a journey through the Congo in search for Kurtz. The river is dangerous with rapids and sharp rocks that can damage the already frail boat. In the middle of dense wilderness, Marlow realizes his isolation and the vastness of nature and earth. On the boat with him is a native that has been trained to handle the furnace as if it were an angry best that must be fed. About fifty miles from the Inner Station, Marlow comes across a sign that warns the recipient of the area. They find a hut, which was previously inhabited by a white man. Marlow also finds a book about the sea with Russian notes, which he thinks is cipher. They continue towards the station and the waters become more dangerous. As they approach the station, the boat is suddenly attacked by weak arrows shooting at them from the trees. The helmsman gets shot and dies and Marlow throws him overboard immediately so that the cannibals will not eat him. Others on the boat start shooting into the trees with their guns. The attack does not stop until Marlow scares the natives by pulling the steam whistle. Marlow becomes more anxious to find Kurtz and feels his efforts are futile because he may be dead by the time they get to him. The boat finally reaches the Inner Station, where Marlow is greeted by a Russian man, a follower of Kurtz. Marlow returns the seafaring book to him. Part III: Marlow shares a conversation with the Russian and learns more about Kurtz. The Russian encourages Marlow and his crew to take Kurtz home because he is very sick, both mentally and physically. Marlow also finds out that Kurtz raided and pillages the tribes for ivory. However, he is seen as a god and leader to the natives. The Russian is surprisingly loyal to Kurtz even though he had tried to kill him before. Near Kurtz's house, Marlow finds heads of rebels on stakes that are used as warnings for potential rebels. In the distance, a large group of natives appear from the wilderness; a number of the natives are carrying Kurtz on a stretcher and bring him inside the house. Although Kurtz is very sick, his voice is still powerful. While on the shore, Marlow sees a native woman, Kurtz's mistress, emerge from the wilderness. Marlow tells the Russian to leave the station because the manager plans to have him hanged. He takes the seafaring book, tobacco, and shoes from Marlow and leaves. One night, while he was supposed to looking after Kurtz, Marlow awakens in the middle of the night and finds that Kurtz has left his bed. Marlow follows his trail into the wilderness and finds him. The men carry Kurtz to the steamboat and Marlow uses the whistle to scare the natives again. Kurtz dies on the boat and gives Marlow a stack of letters and papers, with his last words: "The horror! The horror!" (111). Marlow returns to

4 Brussels and becomes sick. After he is nursed back to health by his aunt, he is visited by an official from the Company and Kurtz's cousin demanding the documents. Marlow visits Kurtz's fiancée and gives the papers to her. She and Marlow talk about Kurtz's and how he is adored by so many people. She asks him what his last words were and he tells her it was her name. The narration returns to the first layer narrator on the yacht. Characters: Kurtz: Although he only appears in part three of the novel, Kurtz is one of the most important characters. In the first two parts of the novel, Kurtz is only seen through the eyes of those who know him, for example the chief accountant, the manager, and the Russian. Like the readers, Marlow does not know Kurtz directly, but only becomes familiar with him from the rumors he hears from others. To those who know him, he is "a very remarkable person" (47). It is odd that everyone who knows him only have good things to say about him. Marlow sees Kurtz as a mysterious person with an unusual power to get people to follow and be loyal to him. It is not until Marlow meets him that he finds out his voice is what attracts people's faith to him. Kurtz's role in the Company is to collect ivory from Africa. Since there are no rules in Africa, he exploits, raids, and pillages the natives to obtain the ivory. Kurtz becomes a completely different person after spending so much time in the wilderness. His African mistress and his Intended represent the two different sides of him: who he was in Europe and who he has become as a result of his time in Africa. Kurtz would often "forget himself amongst these people because of the power and wealth the ivory brings him (95). The manager and the Company's lack of care for Kurtz's well-being emphasizes Conrad's assertion that imperialism is a cruel and unjust practice. Kurtz's last words, "The horror! The horror!" can be interpreted in a number of ways (111). In one respect, the "horror" he is referring to are the experiences he has gone through during his years in the wilderness. Another interpretation of his words is that they are brought on by his sickness. Kurtz's brief, yet impacting appearance in the novel helps to define imperialism from a different perspective. Marlow: Marlow serves as the narrator for most of the story and is the character which most of the events centers around. He narrates his journey to Africa and through the Congo to rescue a man named Kurtz. From the beginning, Marlow is described as one who "did not represent his class" (29). As the story progresses in his point of view, more and more are revealed about Marlow and how he is different from others in many ways. Although this novel's themes do not include male and female roles in society, Marlow mentions several times about the inferiority of

5 women, for example his shame in asking his aunt to help him get a job. This perspective reveals not only people's attitudes during imperialistic times towards conquest, but also reflects the general attitudes of society. To Marlow, "conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves" (31-32). He is able to see the practice of imperialism as an unjustifiable and inhuman act that should not be continued. Marlow's character is a passage to Conrad's mind because most of what Marlow expresses is the message Conrad wants to convey to his readers. During his journey, Marlow is bothered by the insensitivity the Company has towards the natives as well as the imperialists, such as Kurtz and himself. The doctor only sees him as a specimen that is "scientifically interesting" and the Company only sees Kurtz as a means to obtain ivory (49). The thing that worries him most is lack of care for these people as human lives. As Marlow cruises down the Congo, he begins to feel the effects of isolation and delusion that accompanies long periods in the thick wilderness. Greatly affected by the consuming isolation, he begins to feel a "remote kinship with this wild and passionate uproar" for the natives (69). This thought brings forth an epiphany about the unjustifiable actions of the imperialistic Europeans and their conquests over human beings that were neither superior nor inferior to them. Marlow's feelings of isolation also affect his relationship with Kurtz. His excitement to meet this man increases as the journey lengthens and obstacles becomes more difficult. Although he criticizes the Russian and others who have idolized Kurtz, he realizes Kurtz's power over his loyal followers once he meets him. When Marlow returns to the "sepulchral city" or Brussels, he has established a different view towards the public because of their ignorance towards the horror of imperialism that is happening right before them (113). Conrad uses the character of Marlow to represent his thoughts and opinions about imperialism and mankind. The Russian: The Russian and Marlow immediately make a connection because of the lack of social interaction they both encounter in the wilderness. The Russian is the loyal follower of Kurtz, even though Kurtz had attempted to shoot him for ivory. Before he meets Kurtz, Marlow criticizes the Russian for being Kurtz's "last disciple" (98). At this point, he does not understand Kurtz's impact on others and why he is such a hero to them. The Russian provides an example for white, European men that follow in Kurtz's footsteps, not just the natives. His role in the story is to show Kurtz's impact and how "he drew men towards him by what was best in them" (119). The way the Russian is treated by the manager also reflects the theme of moral corruption, on behalf of the Company.

6 Unnamed narrator: The unnamed narrator that begins and concludes the story provides exposition for the novel. He introduces the setting and characters, especially Marlow. By providing a third person view of Marlow before his first person narration, he gives an introduction of what kind of person Marlow is. Throughout the story, the unnamed narrator intervenes in Marlow's narration, providing relief from the action and suspense. The different points of view and the frame story characteristics correlate with the Impressionistic style of writing. The unnamed narrator in the first layer of the story allows a break from the details and ambiguity of the main story. Like an Impressionist painting, one must step back and view it in its entirety in order to understand it. The Intended: When Marlow goes to visit Kurtz s fiancé, he is appalled to realize that even more than a year after Kurtz s death, she is still mourning him as if she had just lost him the day before, but when Marlow meets her, a strong sentiment comes over him and he is strongly reminded of Kurtz as if he had just seen him. Marlow is temporarily annoyed at the Intended because she claims that Kurtz was such a wonderful man full of morals when really she had no idea of the dramatic changes that had occurred in him. She seemed as though she would remember and mourn forever but Marlow realizes it seemed as though the death just happened to her (145). The Intended keeps claiming that she had all his noble confidence [and] knew him best, which is ironic because she does not even know what happened to him in Africa (146). Also, Marlow does not think that she would be able to handle the truth and therefore does the thing that he detests, which is telling a lie. He tells her that Kurtz died with her name on his lips when in reality, he died with two chilling and terrible words. Marlow seems to think that women cannot be strong enough to hear of the terrible and evil things in life. The Manager: The manager is an antagonist of the story who is trying to stop Kurtz, the person that Marlow connects with and is driven to seek. When Marlow first meets the manager, he is under the impression that the manager is not intelligent but once he starts noticing some things, he realizes that the manager is actually very secretive. The manager knows that he would not have been able to steer the boat correctly and therefore, he crashes it so that it would take exactly three months to be fixed and then it would be too late to cure Kurtz. The manager does whatever it takes to secure his own wants, which is why Marlow warns the Russian that the manager thinks [he] ought to be hanged because he is a threat to him (130). The manager is scared that Kurtz will jeopardize his job as the company manager because of his success in finding ivory. He feels threatened by Kurtz so he and his uncle conspire against him.

7 Cannibals: The cannibals are characters that are foils to the pilgrims. Unlike the pilgrims, they exhibit an extraordinary amount of restraint. Marlow is impressed and shocked by these men because they are big powerful men, with not much capacity to weigh the consequences with courage, with strength even yet, though their skins were no longer glossy and their muscles no longer hard" (82). These men remain mentally unchanged, and even though they seem uncivilized, they are far more "civilized" in their own way, in the control that they possess over themselves. Native Woman: The native woman is the mistress of Kurtz. She functions as a contrast to Kurtz s Intended. The native woman is bold in her proceedings and "was savage and superb" (106). She reflects Kurtz true desires along with what he has become, which is too savage and magnificent in his accomplishments. She is ornamented and significant in contrast to where she is from, while the Intended is soft and fragile in her understandings and demeanor. Symbols: The oil painting of the woman Kurtz painted a small sketch in oils, on a panel, representing a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. The background was somber almost black. The movement of the woman was stately, and the effect of the torchlight on the face was sinister (23). This is symbolic of Kurtz s own journey into the Congo. The woman is blindfolded, representing justice, and carries a torch, which represents liberty. Kurtz blindly sets off into the Congo believing he can enlighten the savages. However, as he penetrates the darkness, he is swallowed up by the darkness as his torch only intensifies the darkness around him and destroys his surroundings. This shows how Kurtz journeys to save the natives turned into one of extermination. In the darkness, he and his morals are morphed and mutated into a monster with no moral restraints. Skulls: Like in most situations, the skulls that surround Kurtz s house symbolize death. By surrounding his house with these skulls, Kurtz shows that he is passive towards death and the brutality of the Congo. Marlow finds these Kurtz when he scopes out with a looking glass; at first he does not see anything wrong, but when he looks closely he is appalled as realizes that the round figures were skulls. This again, shows that things are never the way they seem. In this case, a house on the top of a hill turns out to be an atrocious cite that symbolizes death and the grotesque culture of the Congo. The Congo River is to represent the passage into the heart of darkness of Africa. The heart of darkness is the center of human nature, or the basic state of

8 humankind. At this center of mankind is darkness, evil, and debauchery. When human beings are reverted to their original state, they are primarily self-centered and cruel. The winding, rough river into the center of Africa represents Marlow s journey into this heart of darkness and the horrors he sees through the people there. This is compared to the Thames River, which at the end, also seems to lead into an immense darkness. Motifs: Work: 1. A heavy and dull detonation shook the ground, a puff of smoke came out of the cliff, and that was all. No change appeared on the face of the rock. They were building a railway. The cliff was not in the way or anything; but this objectless blasting was all the work going on (45). When Marlow arrives at the outer station, he realizes the futility of the Europeans in the Congo. The men laze around doing nothing, leaving the station in waste. There are no real jobs for them to do, so the Europeans do useless and worthless jobs that do nothing to benefit anyone or anything. The cliff blasting is an example of how the Europeans make it seem that they are working hard and being productive when in fact their presence there is unnecessary and an annoyance. They do useless things to kill time and to put up a fake façade for the world around them. 2. You see I rather chummed with the few mechanics there were in that station, whom the other pilgrims naturally despised on account of their imperfect manners, I suppose. This was the foreman a boiler-maker by trade a good worker (54). This quote goes to show how Marlow gets along with those few Europeans who actually work. He feels comfortable around them, for they seem human to him, and they share a commonality that is virtuous and honest. Marlow does not like those who lie or do nothing, and tends to avoid those types of people because he is disgusted by such sloth and corruption. Marlow feels that work binds people together and allows them to relate to each other. 3. Fine fellows cannibals in their place. They were men one could work with, and I am grateful to them (68). This is slightly ironic in that Marlow appreciates the natives, let alone cannibals, for their restraint and their work ethic. Marlow realizes that the true savages are the Europeans, not the natives, and that the natives are actually a hardworking and honest people. Their only problem is that they are lagging behind the world industrially.

9 Marlow feels that work is an essential aspect of determining the worth and nature of an individual. He believes that work is important in finding out what a person is truly made of and whether that person is a good man. Savages Savages are an important motif because the different portrayals of the savages highlight different views of the savages as well as express Marlow s thoughts on the situation. When Marlow first sees the savages, it is off the coast of Africa. They possess a wild vitality, an intense energy of movement, that was as natural and true as the surf along their coast. They wanted no excuse for being there (46). Their movements are beautiful and natural, as if they truly do belong to the land. However, as Marlow enters the Outer Station, he sees that the savages are dying slowly it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom (48). The savages are cruelly mistreated, and the jobs they are forced to do are tedious yet pointless. This exploitation of the savages disgusts Marlow, and he recognizes that the Europeans are the true savages of the world, not the poor exploited natives of the Congo. Light The motif of light highlights important aspects of the novella as well as provides contrast to the immense darkness that is harbored in the jungle. Near the beginning of the novella, a light is shone on Marlow s face, and it appeared, worn, hollow, with downward folds and dropped eyelids, with an aspect of concentrated attention (3). This shows how this journey into the Congo had changed him mentally, which is reflected physically by his tired and weary demeanor. The truth is like light, and the truth that Marlow witnesses confounds him and horrifies him, and even to the present he still cannot make sense of what he has witnessed. He cannot come to a valid conclusion of his adventures in the Congo. He was struck by the fire of [Kurtz s] eyes and the composed languor of his expression, for it is from his journey to meet Kurtz and his actual encounter to Kurtz that opens his eyes to the horrors and corruption of European imperialism (111). Marlow is repulsed by the corruption and disintegration of morals around him, and the light of truth that shines through the heart of darkness only shows Marlow how dark the human heart can truly be. The Jungle The jungle is important because it sets the mood and atmosphere of the novella, foreshadows important events, and builds suspense. The jungle also expresses Marlow s moods and influences his thoughts of the Congo. At the beginning of Marlow s journey, the edge of a colossal jungle, so dark-green as to be almost black, fringed with white surf, ran straight, like a ruled line, far, far away

10 along a blue sea whose glitter was blurred by a creeping mist (7). Eventually, the darkness of the land takes over, giving the jungle an ominous feeling, foreshadowing the horror that Marlow will witness during his journey into the interior of the jungle as well as the heart of man. Marlow sees that the land [had] a treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of its heart (51). There is something about the jungle that is not right, something hidden in its depths, as if the many trees are trying to suppress the truth, a monster. The powerful evil of the jungle makes one feel very small, very lost (78). The jungle, the very arch of this blazing sky, appear to [Marlow] so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness (89). This is important, for it builds suspense as well as an uncomfortable, dark, and stifling atmosphere that envelops Marlow. As Marlow travels deeper into the interior, the darkness grows, and the evil he feels intensifies as he is drawn closer and closer to Kurtz. Futility Futility is another motif common in the novella. Marlow notes how useless and pointless the European presence is in the Congo, how the black wilderness only brings out the savage side of men. Marlow encounters incidents where the Europeans do nothing but fire shells at a beach or lounge around doing nothing at the stations. There is no reason for them to be there and they serve no purpose that is beneficial as a whole. Instead, the Europeans are destroying a country for its riches and have no restraints on their character and greed. When Marlow finally reaches what is supposed to be civilization, he is shocked by the state of the station, where there were more pieces of decaying machinery, a stack of rusty rails (44). The decay of the stations and most of the places where the Europeans inhabit represent the decay of morals, the degradation of man, and the unlimited greed that lurks inside each heart. Allusions: Whited sepulcher The "whited sepulcher" is a word in biblical language that is used as a figure for a hypocrite or for someone or somewhere whose outward righteousness and pleasantness conceals an inner corruption (35). This allusion of Brussels to a "whited sepulcher" is appropriate because of the cruel and unjust practices of imperialism. To the public, imperialism brings wealth and recognition to their country, but they do not know that their benefits are a result of exploitation of others. Marlow criticizes Brussels and the Company for their deceptive practice of imperialism. Fates: In the beginning of the novel, as Marlow enters the company s building, he passes by two women knitting black wool. Knitting is a symbol of the Fates, and

11 black often represents evil and darkness which foreshadows the horrifying events that will take place within the Congo. Archetypes: Women Women in this novel are archetypes, for Marlow s views on women are consistent with the time era he lives in. Back then, women were considered helpless and men were convinced that women could never live in the real world because they are not strong enough. They should be kept from the truth and allowed to continue to stay in that beautiful world of their own, lest ours gets worse (87). Women were also believed to be purposeless, only useful in the household. Marlow exemplifies by stating that his aunt finding a job for him is setting the women to work, to get a job (18). Only because of his desperation for adventure and a job does Marlow allow his aunt to do him this one favor. Also, when Marlow finally meets Kurtz s intended, he realizes that she is completely wrapped up in her own world, her own truths, and her own image of Kurtz. Marlow realizes that if he tells her the truth of Kurtz s intentions and doings in the Congo, she would not be able to handle it. It would break her. Thus, he lies to her to keep her happy. During Marlow s time, the women were considered weak physically and mentally, and were thus barred form many everyday realities. Kurtz: Kurtz is an archetype of the new generation of imperialists; he is highly talented with his words and is idealistic in his intentions. He came to the Congo not only for profit, but with the true belief that he could change the people and the Congo. However, with these high expectations, he also becomes an archetype of a tragic hero who, under the pressure of the Congo, lets his heart slip into darkness and loses his purpose and resolve. Themes: Nature of evil: Evil is the natural state of man. Although European society and culture have conditioned people to behave and be kind, this is only a mask for the true, horrifying nature of man. Once the chains of society are gone, human nature starts to reveal its dark and savage-like essence. 1. The manager of the company came to make money in Africa, but after staying there for so long, he only saw his goal and worked toward it, without letting anyone get in his way. Therefore, when Kurtz becomes sick, the manager does not even try to hide his delight

12 because he is scared that Kurtz will take his job from him. In the beginning of part two, the manager and the uncle are talking about how they can do anything because there is no one there to enforce the rules, which shows how they no longer care about their morals, they just want to be successful. The manager loses all of his morals because he is willing to take another man s life just because they are capable of taking his job. This shows that his personal gains and wants influence him to lose his humane instincts. 2. Another example of mankind s natural evil would be Kurtz because he is praised for being such a wonderful man with morals who is different from all the other men, but in the end, he is worse than them all. Kurtz stops caring about the natives and starts to only care about his ivory for his personal gains, such as becoming as rich as the others. Kurtz has lost his morals because when Marlow finally gets the chance to meet him, he realizes that Kurtz is using the natives for his own personal and selfish gains. Kurtz has lost all of his humanity because he allows the natives to sacrifice themselves for his health, all because he convinces them that he is like a God that is capable of doing everything. If Kurtz is in his right state of mind, then he would not have allowed the natives to treat him as a superior and he would not have treated them so poorly as well. 3. The Europeans have no law in Africa, no one to tell them what they can or cannot do. The lack of restraints allows their selfish greed, cruelty, and the dark side of their heart run rampant across the wilderness, destroying everything in their path. This moral corruption is represented by the shabby and ruinous states of the European posts and stations in the Congo. The overwhelming wildness and savagery of the wilderness envelops the Europeans and sends them down a path of destruction and corruption. Lack of Restraint: One of the main struggles of mankind is the constant thirst for power, control, and money. Despite anything intentions, people s lack of restraint eventually deteriorates their judgement and let their desires take control. 1. An example of people having no restraints can be seen through the company manager because he tells his uncle that they should just hang someone that may be a threat to them. At first Marlow thinks that he is talking about Kurtz, but later realizes that they are talking about the Russian. Since there are no restraints in Africa and no consequences for their actions, the Europeans feel that they can do whatever they want. Therefore, killing another human being is a likely option because there are no consequences that they would fear. Conrad shows that when people are not watched over, their characters will change and lead to many evils.

13 2. Another example of when there are no restraints is Kurtz himself. Since he does not have any restraints as well, he is able to take advantage of the natives and use them to find the ivory that led to his success. Kurtz causes them to revere him, which in turn makes him feel untouchable. Kurtz knows that no one is able to stop him and therefore, he allows the natives to perform rituals and sacrifices for him. Kurtz would not have been able to do that to the natives if he were back in Europe, but the lack of restraint in Africa enables him to become a monster. 3. Lastly, the Europeans treat the natives like slaves and kills them for their ivory. This is allowed because there is no one there to regulate this and prevent this from occurring. Many of the Europeans do not care for the natives and torture them by making them do useless but difficult tasks. Marlow realizes that if there were superiors that were watching and regulating them, then this kind of treatment would not have happened. Conrad is trying to show the readers that since we are constantly watched, we are not capable of committing terrible crimes, but if we are not supervised, then we would probably feel no guilt in doing certain things because we would not have to face any consequences. Violence and Cruelty: In the Congo, violence and cruelty is a norm that even Europeans have become passive to. Because of the daunting presence of the Congo, the lack of restraint, and the need for power, the people in the Congo rely on violence to carry out their motives. 1. An example of violence and cruelty in this novel would be Kurtz s cruelty toward the natives because even though he claims that he just wants to civilize them, he ends up having them killed in large numbers. Kurtz is not in his right state of mind, but he allows them to perform sacrifices for him and he is not bothered by this because the darkness of Africa had changed him for the worse. This taking of the human life is horrific to Marlow because he is not accustomed to it. Also, he is surprised by the terrible sights. Kurtz is accustomed to this violence and therefore he is unaffected, but this shows that even the best can be corrupted and can become emotionless with time. Conrad is trying to show that people can easily become cruel because people are prone to changing their fickle emotions. 2. Another example of violence can be seen when the natives are shooting at the Europeans when they arrive to take Kurtz away from them. The natives are trying to scare the Europeans away from them because they look up to Kurtz and they love him very much and they do not want to lose him. They use violence not for fun or for no reason, but because they want to keep something that they love and they want to protect themselves. Conrad wants to show that sometimes people use violence to prevent change and for

14 keeping something that they love close to them, instead of using violence for purely selfish and greedy motives. 3. Lastly, cruelty toward and exploitation of the natives can be seen through how they are used for dangerous or useless jobs and chained down like animals. They suffer from disease and starvation, but no European cares because they believe that they are superior to the natives and that the natives are nothing but replaceable tools or workers. The natives are also killed for sport and amusement, expressing European futility and cruelty. An example is when the pilgrims on Marlow s steamboat shoot the natives for fun, just wanting some entertainment. These atrocities show how racist and wrong the Europeans are. The Europeans are the true savages, not the natives. Women: Women are incapable of formulating complex ideas on their own and cannot handle the realities and rigors of life. 1. The women in this novella are almost used as symbols instead of actual people. Marlow s aunt is used to represent the ideals of the white man towards civilizing the Africans. She praises Marlow for going in to carry the White Man s Burden, even though Marlow s purpose for going to the Congo is to explore the depths of Africa and work for the Company. She seems to be a perfect example of the prevailing attitude of the time. 2. Kurtz s mistress has a primitive idea of wealth and status attributed to her ornamentation. She never speaks and is never spoken to, yet follows Kurtz around with a kind of devotion. Though she is assumed to be of some sort of status due to her clothing, her proper place in the novel is as an ornament for the native peoples, a symbol of the highest, silent point a woman can be in in their society. 3. Kurtz s Intended, too, is treated as merely an extension of Kurtz s ideals and influence. She constantly praises Kurtz and mourns him for over a year past his death. Marlow lies to her about Kurtz s last words, believing that she cannot handle the truth of what Kurtz knows. Marlow s attitude towards all of the women in the story is one of patronizing condescension, where he believes that women are not worthy or even capable of facing reality. Memorable Quotes:

15 - The horror! The horror! (99). - Kurtz speaks these words last because he has finally truly realized the true horrors he has committed and witnessed. The horror can be many things. Kurtz is condemning his horrible actions or his morality finally catches up to him. He realizes the true corruption of his morals and of the atrocious crimes that he has committed and he acknowledges the horrors he unleashed. Another meaning can be of the horrors of human temptation, of the inexplicable strength of the darkness of one s heart when one is alone in the wild. He hates yet loves the temptations that he has succumbed to and the wild unrestrained madness that he is able to unleash. However, Kurtz is horrified at the same time by the true darkness of his actions and of how he actually loves and desires this darkness. Lastly, the horror can be Kurtz s condemning humankind, their nature and their suppressed darkness. He believes that the heart of man is truly horrible, for in every heart there is darkness. Kurtz is horrified by the fact that human nature is truly dark and that humans are evil and corrupt by nature. There is no natural good. The good in one s body is brought out by the moral and social restrictions on the darkness in one s heart. That is the true horror of life, the truth that brings Kurtz to condemn humans and the universe. His words contribute to Marlow s stating that he himself has been brought to the edge of insanity, of destruction, and of madness. Marlow himself has witnessed many horrors in the Congo and each atrocious and inhumane event or thing he witnesses brings him closer to the brink of human darkness, to the edge of darkness, to the boundary between morality and corruption. Marlow himself has been tempted to step over the edge into his own darkness because of the time he has spent in the Congo. The jungle not only changes people physically, but also mentally and spiritually as well. Marlow feels this ominous darkness, and as he travels deeper and closer to the heart of darkness, the inner station, he is at the same time making a psychological journey into the heart of darkness of men, of the true horrors that can be committed by human nature when left wild and free. To Marlow, Kurtz represents the never-ending darkness of the universe and of the heart. - I don t like work - no man does - but i like what is in the work, - the chance to find yourself (36). - Why not? Anything - Anything can be done in this country (42). - Fine fellow - cannibals - in their place. They were men one could work with (45). - Well, you know, that was the worst of it--this suspicion of their not being inhuman (46). - Exterminate all the brutes (46).

16 - When they are gone you must fall back upon your own innate strength, upon your own capacity for faithfulness (65). - No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is (76). - It is impossible to convey the life sensation of any given epoch of one s existence that which makes its truth, its meaning its subtle and penetrating the essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream alone (78). - "My Intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my everything belonged to him Everything belonged to him, but that was a trifle. The thing was to know what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own" (85). - Droll thing life is--that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose (94). Distinguishing Characteristics of the Work: Heart of Darkness is distinctive for being a frame narrative, with an unnamed narrator as the first layer and Marlow as the second layer narrator. Conrad uses this frame story to express the ambiguity of the darkness of human nature and of the truths of life. Even after all of his journeys, Marlow cannot make sense of the new truths and dark knowledge he has gained from his terrifying experiences. This frame story reveals step-by-step Marlow s physical and psychological journey into the heart of darkness and uncovers the mystery of human nature (represented physically by Kurtz). What happens to a man when left alone in the wild with no restraints and nothing to stop him from his material pursuits is dangerous and traumatizing, but the thought processes of these unfortunate deranged are impenetrable. Human nature will forever remain a mystery, for man will never be able to truly figure out the true extent of darkness in a man s heart, and this mystery of the unknown is what troubles Marlow to the end. He cannot find closure or come up with conclusions from his experiences, and the frame story emphasizes the reason why. The novella is also recognized for its short length yet detailed description and intricate content. When first published, it was separated into three installments and published in a magazine. The separated parts of the novel make the ending of each installment suspenseful and evoke eagerness to read the subsequent parts. The last installment has a resolute ending, unlike the two previous installments, which are designed to anticipate the next. In this novel, Conrad portrays the views and attitudes of most Europeans during the time of 19th century imperialism. Many critics have accused Conrad for being a racist because of the contents of the novel, but he was merely reflecting the common views during that time period.